Method of producing a detergent solution



May 23, 1933. s w 1,910,454

METHOD OF PRODUCING A DETERGENT SOLUTION Filed Dec. 10, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 56' 32' 51 Z9 Z9 Z4 30 j I 3/ 34 t I F I' Z7 15 Z8- 3/ Z /0-- /0 j? 35 Z I f/ M10 0 omoo May 23, 1933. Y s w 1,910,454

METHOD OF PRODUCING A DETERGENT SOLUTION Filed Dec. 10, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z A 24 7; I 2527 0 I V l0 W I5 21 25. 52 7 l/ /5 /2 K Jz 000000 memo m gwownto'o May 23, 1933. w 1,910,454

METHOD OF PRODUCING A DETERGENT SOLUTION Filed Dec. 10. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 abtommq Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES.

STUART A. WIER, OF

PATENT? OFFICE DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO TRIDEX CORPORATION, OI DALLAS,

TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE METHOD OF PRODUCING A DETERGENT SOLUTION Application filed. December 10, 1928'. Serial No. 825,138. A

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in methods of cleaning surfaces. 7

One object of the invention is to make certain improvements and advances over the method shown in my co-pending application a detergent solution and this solution, while hot and while flowing in 'a body, is delivered into the path of a hot impelling fluid, so

that the hot detergent solution is atomized, whereby a highly effective cleaning fluid is produced and also whereby a steady and continuous flow is produced.

Another object of the invention is to introduce into the atomized detergent solution 2 a hot liquid for the purpose of diluting the detergent solution and also for lowering the temperature of the impelling fluid, or to introduce the diluting liquid into the flowing body of detergent solution prior to atomization.

A further object of'the invention is to bring thethree fluids together at a common point of admixture, whereby more eflective results may be had and comprises a continuation in part of my application filed December 6, 1928, Serial No. 324,230 based upon said application, Serial No. 117,296..

I Still another object of the invention is to provide a method. wherein a continuous supply of hot impelling fluid is provided and the pressures equalized so that the impelling of fluids becomes automatic.

A construction designed to carry out the method will be hereinafter described, to-

gether with the steps and ramifications of the invention. A Y

- The invention will be. more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the. invention is shown, and wherein: Fig. 1 is an elevation of an apparatus for carrying out the method herein set forth,

Fig, 2 is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, partly in elevation and partly in section,

Fig. I is a view similar to Fig.2, partly in elevation and partly in section,

Fig. 5 is a plan view,

i Fig. 6 is a plan view of the generator,

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the same,

Fig. 8 is a partial vertical sectional view of the apparatus, and

Fig. '9 is a detail showing the hot water and steam pipes reversed.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatical view of the apparatus.

In the drawings the numeral 10 desige5 nates a vertical cylindrical metal jacket of suitable construction and mounted on an annular base 11 having a plurality of draft openings 11'. p A suitable fuel burner 12 is supported in the lower portion of the 'acket we just above the base. Any kind of fire or heating means suitable for the purpose may be employed. The jacket has a lining 13 of asbestos or equivalent material (Figs. 3 and 4) which extends from the top of the jacket 78 to a point below the outlets of the burner.

Within the jacket is disposed a coiled steam and hot water generator unit 14. This unit includes a central vertical water column 1.5 closed at each end, but having a cleanout cap 15 at its top. A water inlet pipe 16 extends'into the jacket and includes a con trolling valve 17. For successful operation, water must be supplied at substantially the same pressure which is maintained in the generator. The pipe. 16 is connected to the upper end of a vertical pre-heating coil 18 (Figs. 3, 6 and 8) and the lower end of the coil. enters and supplies water to the lower end of the column 15.

The pre-heated water rises in the column and supplies warm water to the lower ends of circulating coils 19, of which I have shown five. The circulating coils have their lower ends connected to the lower end of the column 15 while their upper ends are connected to the upper end of said column.

Water flows from the column into the lower ends of the" circulating coils and is vaporized and converted into steam in the upper portions of said coils, whereby steam is discharged into the top of the column. It-

a is obvious that such steam is saturated or wet. If suificient water is supplied the coils 19 will contain only water and thus hot water and not steam would be discharged into the top of the column 15.

A pair of steam'coils 20 are connected at their upper ends to the upper end of the column 15 so as to receive saturated steam or hot water from said column. The lower ends of these coils are secured in a Y-coupling 21 whereby both steam coils may be the top of the jacket 10.

A pickup pipe 25 extends down into the column 15 and has its upper end connected to a discharge pipe 26 "which extends from the top'of the column through the side of the jacket and connects with a branch discharge pipe 27 by means of a T 28. -A pressure gage 29 is connected with the T. A combination check and cut-01f valve 30 is connected in the pipe 27. Valves of this character may befpurchased in the open market and are arranged so that when opened fluid may flow through the pipe 27 past the valve, but liquid cannot flow back into said pipe 27. The valve may be closed to prevent the flow of liquid in either direction. 4 1

The various pipes maintain the generator, which latter is composed of the coils and the water column, in position in the jacket, but if desired additional fastenings may be supplied. It is preferable to arrange the burner 12 so that the flame will be directed upwardlythrough the coilsand around the column 15. This provides for a direct heating of the coils as well as those portions of the pipes 22 and 23 in the path (if said flames. A conical cover 31' is mounted on the top of the jacket and has a central collar 32' for connecting with a chimney if desired. The cover 31' may have a slip connection with the acket so as to be readily removed if desired.

jacket, as by brackets 32. It is important that the tank be rigidly attached and it is desirable that it be close to the jacket so as to provide a compact structure. A cap 34 is screwed into the top of the tank and may be removed for introducing soap or any other detergent, such as liquid hydrocarbons of kerosene type, washing powders, caustic alkali and the like. A relief cook 33 is connected to the upper end of the tank and when it is desired to recharge said tank the valve 30 may be closed and the cock opened, whereby pressure within the tank is released. The pipe 27 is terminated near the bottom of the tank so as to deliver the hot fluid at the bottom of the charge, thus agitating and heating the charge when said fluid rises in the tank. A cleanout plug 34 is secured in the bottom of the tank.

The pickup pipe 25 may vary in length. If it is desired to deliver hot water to the tank 31, then the pipe 25 must extend low enough in the column to be constantly immersed in water; but if it is desired to deliver saturated steam to said tank, then the lower end of the pipe 25 should not be immersed in water. It is obvious that the height at which the water stands in the column 15 will depend largely upon the amount of water supplied to the generator and the pressure within the same. As there is considerable variation in this step of the method, it is obvious that the hot fluid supplied to the tank may either be a liquid or saturated steam.

The solution which flows from the tank .31 will be, of course, hot and its character arate application filed by CharlesS. Crick mer, May 5, 1928, Serial No. 275,355, and, therefore, will only be described in a general The steam pipe 22 is connected to a branch 22 (Fig. 2) W'hichin turn-is connected to the upper end of the atomizer body 37. There is no valve in either of these pipes and, therefore, the steam from the coils may pass directly into the atomizer. The hot This arrangement permits sedi-.

water pipe 23 is connected with a valve 38 which is connected at one side with the atomizer below the pipe 22. gent solution flowing by gravity ma body is discharged into the atomizer where it 1s The hot detervelocity.

The three fluids that is the solution, steam and hot water, are admixed at a common point and it is obvious that it makes little difference whether the steam pipes and the hot water pipes are connected as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, or i fwhe connection is reversed, as is shown in Fig. 9, where the hot water pipe 23 is connected to the body 37 above the steam pipe 22'. The function of the steam is to impel the solution so as to conduct it to its point of discharge and while it is desirable to have suflicient velocity it is undesirable to have high temperature, which will be hereinafter referred to.

The fluids are discharged from the atomizer' in a thoroughly mixed condition. At the lower end of the body 37 I provide a bowl 39 in which the fluids may be expanded before final discharge from the atomizer and this bowl is connected with a discharge nipple 40, but the bowl could be eliminated and the nipple or any other discharge connection applied direct to the body. The nipple is connected with a'section of flexible metallic hose 41, which in turn is connected with alength .of ordinary rubber or other similar hose capable of conducting a hot fluid The hose 42 may be of any practical length and is connected at its discharge end with a nozzle 43 having a handle 44. The nozzle 43 may have a head 45 of any suitable construction designed to discharge the fluid in a finely atomized spray, it being desirable to avoid a solid stream, although the head may be adjustable to emit a solid stream when it is desired to discharge water for washing purand enters the circulating coils 19 in which it rises. If a limited amount of water is supplied, saturated steam will be generated in said coils 19 and discharged into the upper end of the column 15. If a large amount of water is supplied, hot water and not steam may be discharged into the column 15. If the lower end of the pickup pipe 25 is immersed in water, hot water will be forced through said pipe, owing to the pressure within the generator, or if it is not immersed saturated steam will flow up through said pipe. The hot fluid from the pipe 25 will be conducted by the pipes 26 and 27 into the tank 31.

The tank 31 having been previously charged with a suitable detergent, the hot fluid upon entering said tank will agitate, dissolve and heat the detergent, as the case may be, and thus form a hot detergent solution. This solution will flow out through the pipe 35 to the atomizer 37.

Saturated steam or very hot water entering the upper ends of the coils 20 from the column 15 will either be reheated or converted into steam, and as this steam is discharged from the lower ends of the coils and passes into thepipe 22 it will be subjected to the intense heat of the flame of the burner 12.

Owing to the small diameter of the pipe 22, as well as the steam coils, it is obvious that a fairly high pressure will be built up. This pressure will be exerted throughout the generator, against the inflowing water and within the tank 31, so that the liquid solution will be free to flow by gravity. The pressure built up ,may, as an example, be held at seventy pounds per square inch by providing a pop-off valve 24 in connection with the overflow pipe 24, which can be set at this pressure or any other desired pressure.

I wish to make it clear and it is very important in this method that the steam be quickly generated and flow unimpeded to its work, because the major function of the steam is to furnish pressure for impelling the solution to the work and, therefore, its temperature is unimportant. It is not the purpose or the theory of this method to employ steam for cleaning purposes. The aim is to'obtain velocity rather than temperature.

The hot detergent solution delivered to the body 37 is admixed with hot water introduced by the pipe 23 and the diluted hot solution is conducted by the parts 41, 42 and 43 to the head 45 from which it is sprayed on the work.

If good hard soap of a quality equal to ordinary toilet soap is used, the most delicate surfaces and material, capable of being washed, may be cleaned with the spray produced by this method and without injury. This is due to the fact that while the detergent solution may have a temperature ranging from 150 degrees Fahrenheit to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, and the hot water from pipe 23 may have a like temperature, and the steam or gaseous fluid may even have a higher temperature, the higher temperature of the steam or gaseous fluid is reduced during the travel of the solution to the nozzle 43 and is dissipated in the spray before reaching the work. Also, there is not suflicient caustic alkali in the spray to harm the work. However, if it is desired to remove paint and varnish, then instead of toilet soap, a strong washing powder or caustic alkali compound is used.

It is quite important that a generous supply of hot fluid, either water or steam, be delivered to the tank 31 in order to produce a relatively large quantity of detergent solution. In my U. S. Patent N 0. 1,607 ,034, the streams of saturated steam supplied both to the detergent tank and the super-heating coil were substantially equal, and in developing the apparatus and evolving the present method I found it highly advantageous to produce considerably more liquid for the tank than for the steam coils.

The steam which is conducted through the pipe 22, being by reason of its velocity, chiefly for the purpose of impelling the de tergent solution flowing from pipe 41 and the hot water flowing from the pipe 23, such steam need not be in such quantity as either the solution or the water. I have found that it is undesirable, unless paint is being removed, to have high pressure steam or high temperature steam in the spray which flows from the nozzle, but a goodly quantity of hot liquid is most desirable, provided it is atomized and is not hot enough to injure a ainted surface.

t is pointed out that in this method steam is constantly supplied to the atomizer and no valve is provided, thus guarding against any chance of impeding the flow of said steam. The atomization of the fluids is highly important because it prevents fluxation throughout the system and causes a steady and regular flow.

While I have described the use of water and steam and have illustrated an apparatus for using such fluids, it is clearly within the scope of my method to use any suitable liquid or to employ any impelling fluid found practical and to, of course, use an apparatus suitable for the purpose.

For instance, instead of water, the detergent solution could be formed by mixing hot kerosene or other liquid with elther soap or some other detergent. This solution could be diluted with water or any other liquid and compressed air suitable heated could be utilized instead of steam. However, it is considered essential in this method that all fluids be brought to a common point of admixture and atomized at this point.

In the method illustrated in my co-pending application, Serial No. 117,296, the step of atomizing the fluids is not set forth. The

hot water and steam are introduced into the flowing solution 'by separate connections to the pipe conducting said solution. The step of atomization and the bringing of the fluids together at a common mixing point 'is a very important advance and a valuable improvement over the method previously set forth. By atomizing the fluids not only is a better and more homogenous mixture had,

but fluxation of the fluids in the generator and the tank is substantially eliminated.

The steady flow gives much better results being immersed in the water or terminating above the water so that either hot water or saturated steam may be conveyed to the detergent tank.

It is true that in Fig. 9 of said co-pending application saturated steam may be taken from the top of the water column, but no pick-up pipe is employed. It is obvious that the length of the pick-up pipe would have much to do with the character of steam delivered to the detergent tank because steam taken off the central portion of the column might contain considerably more moisture than steam taken directly from the top of the column.

The use of the metallic hose 41 contiguous to the expanding bowl 39 is of advantage in dissipating the heat of the steam, articularly in view of the fact that it is highly desirable to get rid of the high heat of the steam before conducting it through the rubber hose 42.

What I claim, is:

1. The method of producing a surface treating stream which includes continuously producing a hot fluid of water content, dissolving a soluble detergent material with a portion of said hot fluid to form a hot concentrated solution, flowing said solution and while said solution is flowing dilutin it with another portion of said hot flui of water content, subjecting still another portion of said hot fluid of water content separately to suflicient heat and in such manner as to flash said portion into saturated steam, admixing said steam with the diluted stream for heating and impelling said stream, and flowing said admixture a sufficient distance to materially reduce the heat of the gaseous fluid and maintain the diluted solution in hot state prior to discharging said fluids.

2. The method of producing a surface treating stream which includes continuously producing a hot fluid of water content, disture.

STUART A. ER. 

